VETGIS®-Styria -: a geographic information system as a tool for epidemiological research for the veterinary administration

A geographical information system (GIS) is an innovative software technology to analyse spatial data. GIS are widely used in epidemiology to work on spatial and temporal information about the outbreak and spread of diseases to be able to implement adequate control systems (e.g.: surveillance programs). GIS are also used to detect clusters of rare diseases or to define areas with high exposure. Georeferencation of animal data allows the determination of spatial sampling plans, too. VETGIS (R) -Styria contains the coordinates of 41,227 farms, the boundaries of the Styrian provinces and municipalities, digital network of roads and the data of the official livestock census 1995 and 1999. VETGIS (R) -Styria is used for the determination of protection and surveillance zones in case of outbreaks of classical swine fever, epidemiological investigations relating to BVD/MD or scabies in chamois and finally for the Styrian Salmonella-screening in pork.